Jaisalmer, nicknamed "The Golden City", is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Jaisalmer is named after its founder Rawal Jaisal. "Jaisalmer" means "the Hill Fort of Jaisal". Jaisalmer is also called as the Golden city of India because the yellow sand gives a yellowish-golden touch to the city & its surrounding area. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain temples. Many of the houses and temples are finely sculptured. It lies in the heart of the Thar Desert and has a population of about 78,000. It is the administrative headquarters of Jaisalmer District.

Unlike any other city, this desert fortress is one of Rajasthan's most exotic and unusual towns. Jaisalmer, an important ancient trading centre because of its strategic location on the camel trade routes, is often described as the 'golden city'. The city also has an interesting legend associated with it, according to which, Lord Krishna-the head of the Yadav Clan, foretold Arjuna that a remote descendent of the Yadav Clan would built his kingdom atop the Trikuta Hill. His prophecy was fulfilled in 1156 A.D. when Rawal Jaisal, a descendent of the Yadav Clan and a Bhatti Rajput, abandoned his fort at Lodurva on advice of a local hermit Eesaal and chose the Tricut Hills as his new abode and founded a new capital -Jaisalmer.

Jaisalmer is like straight out of an Arabian Nights fable. The name Jaisalmer induces a dramatic picture of utter magic and brilliance of the desert. The hostile terrain not with standing the warmth and colour of people is simply over whelming. Rising from the heart of the Thar Desert like a golden mirage is the city of Jaisalmer. A commanding fort etched in yellow sandstone stands, with all its awesome splendour, dominating the amber-hued city. One of the main draws is the daunting 12th century Jaisalmer Fort. The beautiful havelis which were built by wealthy merchants of Jaisalmer are yet another interesting aspect of the desert city. And you can let your eyes caress the sloppy sand dunes while you ramble your way in a camel safari. The desert citadel is truly a golden fantasy in Thar Desert.

Ages have gone by and the monuments of Jaisalmer have withstood the buffeting winds of the desert all through. Jaisalmer is a marvel of beautiful culture and harsh climatic conditions, together amounting to a memorable experience. The old city was completely encircled by wall but much of it is now pulled down sadly for want of building material in recent years. The massive golden fort, which is the essence of Jaisalmer, is entered through First Gate and is a burrow of narrow streets complete with Jain Temples and old palaces. The main market the Bhatia Market is right below the hill. The bank, offices and several shops are also located near the Amar Sagar Gate to the west.

Geography of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India

Jaisalmer is almost entirely a sandy waste, forming a part of the Great Indian Desert. The terrain around, within a radius of about 60 km is stony and rocky. The area is barren, undulating with its famous sand dunes and slopes towards the Indus valley and the Runn of Kutch.  The general aspect of the area is that of an interminable sea of sandhills, of all shapes and sizes, some rising to a height of 150 ft. Those in the west are covered with log bushes, those in the east with tufts of long grass. The soil here is grateful even to a little rain and turns lush green during monsoon. The underground water level is very low. Water is scarce, and generally brackish; the average depth of the wells is said to be about 250 ft. There are no perennial streams, and only one small river, the Kakni, which, after flowing a distance of 28 m., spreads over a large surface of flat ground, and forms a lake orjhil called the Bhuj-Jhil. The climate is dry and healthy. Throughout Jaisalmer only raincrops, such as bajra, joar, motif, til, etc., are grown; spring crops of wheat, barley, etc., are very rare. Owing to the scant rainfall, irrigation is almost unknown.

Geographically this district is spread over in 38,401 sq. km which is one of the largest district and almost equal to the state of Kerala. Joined together, the district of barmer and Jaisalmer is the Largest Parliamentary constituency in India. Jaisalmer District is located within a rectangle lying between 26°.4’ –28°.23' North parallel and 69°.20'-72°.42' east meridians. It is the largest district of Rajasthan and one of the largest in the country. The breath (East-West) of the district is 270 Km and the length (North-South) is 186 Km. It has an average elevation of 229m (751 feet). The area of Jaisalmer is 5.1 km². On the present map, district Jaisalmer is bounded on the north by Bikaner, on the west & south-west by Indian boarder, on the south by Barmer and Jodhpur, and on the east by Jodhpur and Bikaner Districts. Jaisalmer is situated on the border of India and Pakistan in West Rajasthan. The length of international border attached to District Jaisalmer is 471 Km.

Flora & Fauna of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India

Khezada, Bavla, Lora, Rohida, Van, Phog, Kumbhar, Jal, Neem, Babul and many other trees are to be found among sparse vegetation. Orchards are luxury and can be seen occasionally in a very rare sport. Grass-beds or lawns are never seen anywhere. Animals perforce have to move from one place to another in search of fodder and water. Sheep, cow, goat, camel, boar and jackals form the fauna here. Poisonous snakes are common in the desert. The birds of various kinds commonly found in the area are peacock, parrot, pigeon, crow and specially the white Palam birds make the surroundings lively and interesting. The number of great Indian bustards, which were once in abundance in Thar Desert, began to decline fast. In addition to these cocks and hens are domestic birds.

Climate of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India

District Jaisalmer has a very dry climate with very hot summer; a cold winter and sparse rains. The climate is extremely hot during summer with maximum temperature reaching up to 49.2 °C and extremely cold during winder with minimum temp. in the range of 1 °C. The variation in temperature from morning to noon and the late midnight is a sudden phenomenon. The average rainfall is only 16.4 cm as against the state average of 57.51 cm.

History of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India

The Maharajas of Jaisalmer trace their lineage back to Jaitsimha, a ruler of the Bhati Rajput clan. The majority of the inhabitants of Jaisalmer are Bhati Rajputs, who take their name from an ancestor named Bhatti, renowned as a warrior when the tribe was located in Punjab. Shortly after this the clan was driven southwards, and found a refuge in the Indian desert, which was henceforth its home. Deoraj, a famous prince of the Bhati family, is esteemed the real founder of the Jaisalmer dynasty, and with him the title of rawal commenced. In 1156 Rawal Jaisal, the sixth in succession from Deoraj, founded the fort and city of Jaisalmer, and made it his capital as he moved from his former capital at Lodhruva (which is situated about 15 km to the south-east of Jaisalmer) to a safer place. The ruling family of the erstwhile Jaisalmer State belongs to Bhati Clan of Yadu Rajputs of Chandrawasnshi (Lunar) race who claim descent from Lord Krishna, the defied hero who ruled at Dwarka. The historical origin of Bahttis can be inferred from the couplet which says that the Yadu Rajputs ruled and constructed Forst at Kashi, Madhura, Pragvad, Gajni, Bhatner, Digam, Dirwal, Lodurva and ninth in Jaisalmer. (Gajni is in Afganisthan and Dirawal is now in Pakistan). The major opponents of the Bhati Rajputs were the powerful Rathor clans of Jodhpur and Bikaner. They used to fight battles for the possession of forts, waterholes or cattle. Jaisalmer was positioned strategically and was a halting point along a traditional trade route traversed by the camel caravans of Indian and Asian merchants. The route linked India to Central Asia, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, Africa and the West.

During the Islamic invasion of India, Jaisalmer escaped direct Muslim conquest due to its geographical situation in the desert region. The Rawals of Jaisalmer agreed to pay an annual tribute to the Delhi Sultans. The first siege of Jaisalmer occurred during the reign of Allaud-din Khilji. It was provoked by Bhatis' raid on a caravan filled with treasure. According to local ballads, the Bhatis defended the fort for seven years until the enemy army forced beached the ramparts. Bhatis, facing certain defeat, proclaimed the rite of jauhar. Later, Sultan Ferozshah also sieged Jaisalmer after the rulers of Jaisalmer raided his camp at Anasagar Lake near Ajmer. The siege led to another jauhar. Jaitsimha's son Duda perished in the attack. Duda's descendants ruled over Jaisalmer for about two centuries. Duda's descendant Lunakarna had a fight with Humayun when the latter passed through Jaisalmer en route to Ajmer. Mughal emperor Akbar was married to one of the Jaisalmer princesses. Later, Jaisalmer was ruled by a noble called Sabala Simha, who won the patronage of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for services rendered in his Peshawar campaign.

Jaisalmer was one of the last states to sign a treaty with the British. The treaty between Maharawal Moolraj-II and the British government of 12th December 1818 guaranteed to the ruler and his posterity the principality of Jaisalmer. Under this treaty the ruler of the State was required to act in subordinate cooperation with the British Government. At the time of Afgan War in 1938-39 the then ruler of the state Maharawal Gaj singh made excellent fool-proof arrangements for transportation of British troops for which British Government felt grateful to the ruler for timely help and cooperation. In 1844, after the British annexed Sind, The Forts of Shahgarh and Ghotaru, which are formerly belonged to Jaisalmer, were restored to the State. During the British Raj, Jaisalmer was the seat of a princely state of the same name, ruled by the Bhati clan of rajputs. The present descendant is Brijraj Singh. Though the city is under the governance of the Government of India, a lot of welfare work is carried out by him and his family. The Royal Family still commands a lot of respect from the people.

Traditionally, the main source of income was the levies on the caravans. However, the glory of Jaisalmer faded when Bombay emerged as a port and the sea trade replaced the traditional land routes. The partition of India in 1947 lead to closing of all the trade routes on the Indo-Pak border and rendered Jaisalmer a drought-prone desert backwater on the international border. . In 1949 when Jaisalmer was merged into the state of Rajasthan, there was no important change in the area of the state. On October 6, 1949, the region was given the status of an independent district in Jodhpur division. Ironically, skirmishes between India and Pakistan gave Jaisalmer a strategic importance and made it serviceable as an army supply depot. Later, the Rajasthan Canal served to revive the surrounding desert areas. Roads and railroads were then built, knitting the hitherto remote town with the rest of Rajasthan. Later, the Government of Rajasthan decided to promote Jaisalmer as a tourist destination

Economy of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India

At present Tourism, Khadi industry, Mineral based industry, Stone Cutting & Carving etc. are the main industries in this District.

Tourism is the most important industry contributing to the economy of Jaisalmer. While Jaisalmer may always have been remote, it is filled with many artistic structures and monuments of local historical importance. Jaisalmer's medieval mud fortress and walled township make it a popular tourist destination. The surrounding desolate landscape evidences a stark, austere beauty. Camel safaris through the nearby desert dunes are popular with tourists; competition for business is fierce. A few quiet days spent wandering around the town and the surrounding desert can be a wonderful way of unwinding from the chaos of larger Indian cities.

Woolen khadi items of this district are very popular all over the country. Since animal husbandry is the main occupation of the people of this district. Khadi industry has developed as the most important cottage industry. About 2 lac square meter of khadi items are produced in this district every year. The Government of India initiated departmental exploration for oil in 1955-56 in the Jaisalmer area. Oil India Limited's discovered natural gas in 1988 in the Jaisalmer basin. Jaisalmer is also known for their fine leather messenger bags made from wild camels native to the area.

There is a vast scope of mineral based industries in this district with the abundance of mineral deposits. It hoped that major Cement plants and other mineral based industries will develop in this district very rapidly. In Jaisalmer town, the RICCO industrial area Gandhi Colony is already developed. Baramsar and Hamira area have recently set apart.

A demarcated industrial area exists in pokaran also known as Ashapura industrial area. There are three saline areas viz. Pokaran Rin, Gudi Rin & Kanod Rin. Thus salt industry is also expected to be developed in the near future. In IGNP area there is a scope for oil mills, Dal mills and other agro-based industries.

People and Culture of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India

Jaisalmer district is bestowed with Art, Architecture, Culture and traditions full of color and music and thereby attracting hordes of domestic and foreign tourists. The folk music of desert is an outstanding culmination of long traditions mixed with varied social customs and inherent concept of classical music revealing the life of desert. Being the neighborhood of sindh Area of Pakistan the language, culture and traditions of the people of the district are dominated by Sindh. People are hardy and have great power of tolerance.

The people of the desert are very jovial and friendly. The life of desert is very difficult. Despite the hardship, people are satisfied and happy. One would like to see the desert’s life style then go to a village, which is far away from city. More than 80% of the population of Jaisalmer lives in rural areas. Males go out to work and females stay at home. The main part of the population leads a wandering life, grazing their flocks and herds. Large herds of camels, horned cattle, sheep and goats are kept. The principal trade is in wool, ghee, camels, cattle and sheep. The chief imports are grain, sugar, foreign cloth, piece-goods. It suffered from famine in 1897, 1900 and other years, to such an extent that it has had to incur a heavy debt for extraordinary expenditure.

In the village most people live in huts (Jhopri). These beautiful huts are made of grass. They are cool in summers and warm in winter. Every family has 4-5 huts. Around the huts there are thorny bushes and wire. Some of the villages have stone houses. Almost all villages have a pond or well for drinking water. The government provides water through pipelines.

In the villages the main sources of income are animal rearing and farming. Every family keeps cows, Goats, Sheep and camel. When there is good rain there is plenty of fodder for cattle. The staple crops are ‘Bajara’ and ‘Gawar’. People change their establishments in search of grass for cattle. People eat mainly Bajra’s chapattis, milk and milk products and curds. The trees and bushes, which are found in desert, have fruits and buds, which are eaten vegetables.

Art & Music

The two communities viz. ‘Manganiars’ and ‘Langas’ have not only preserved the traditional art & music but they have carried it beyond the domestic shores. The folk Music with traditional instruments and the folk dances are very popular and fascinating. The cultural programmes performed by these artistes have special attraction for the tourists.

Desert Festival of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India

Once a year in winters and on the middle of the continually rising and falling stark yellow sands of the great Thar Desert, the empty sands around Jaisalmer come alive with the brilliant colour, music and laughter of the Desert Festival. The festival is organised by the Rajasthan State Tourism Corporation. The Desert Festival is a colourful, joyous celebration of the rich heritage of Rajasthan. This festival takes place in Jaisalmer in the month of February and lasts for three days.

Musicians entice you with haunting ballads - a mixture of romantic verses weaved together with tunes of tragic pain. The fair has snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats and folk performers. Camels also play a stellar role. Colorful craft bazaars are set up for the occasion and a sound and light spectacle is organized with folk artists performing against the splendid backdrop of the famous Sam sand dunes on the full moon night. Surely a not-to-be missed event.

During the desert festival, the sands around Jaisalmer are adorned with vibrant hues of music and dance, accompanied with sounds of laughter and joy. The Jaisalmer Fort provides an ethereal backdrop to the annual Desert Festival celebrating the traditional performing arts and creative crafts of Rajasthan. The otherwise barren landscape is splashed with vibrant colors marking the opening of the Desert Festival. Over the years, the desert dwellers in their solitude have woven a fascinating tapestry with threads of music and rhythm and the Desert Festival is a celebration of their heritage. It is a chance of a lifetime to see the folk art forms against the landscape that has nurtured them for hundreds of years during your Rajasthan tour.

The desert festival in Jaisalmer was started to attract foreign tourists, who always wanted to explore as many facets of Rajasthan as they could in the possible crunch of time. The rich culture of the region is on display during this three day long extravaganza. The three-day event stresses more on local elements and heritage. For example, this no-nonsense festival will only showcase Rajasthani folk songs and dance. These are presented by some of the best professionals of the art. This is truly a moment worth preserving. You will never forget marvels like the famous Fire dancers that are the major attraction of the desert festival celebrations.
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Location and Transport

Jaisalmer is situated in the very heart of Rajasthan and a popular tourist destination. Being part of the Desert Triangle and the venue of Desert Festival, the place is accessible by rail, road and air and has tourist accommodation ranging from high budget to low budget. The city is also covered by the "Palace on Wheels" a train-cum-road package, which needs no description. This place too witnesses large flow of tourist traffic in winters.

Distances of important cities from Jaisalmer: New Delhi (864 km), Jaipur (558 km), Mumbai (1177 km), Ahmedabad (626 km).

Air
Though Jaisalmer is not directly connected to Airways as such, Jodhpur airport is 285 Km away. Jodhpur is connected to all the major metros of India by government owned as well as private airlines. From Jodhpur you can hire Cabs or take a train journey according to your wish and preference.

Rail

Jaisalmer is connected to major cities of India through broad gauge as well as meter gauge railway tracks. Direct trains from Jaisalmer are available to Jodhpur as well as Delhi. Jaisalmer is connected through both 'Broad gauge' as well as 'Meter gauge' tracks. You can also travel to Jaisalmer by Palace on Wheels.

Road

Jaisalmer is well connected to the rest of state by well-maintained roads. Due to its proximity to Indo-Pak boarder, special emphasis is given on its maintenance. Deluxe & Ordinary buses of Rajasthan Roadways & Private companies operate form Jaisalmer to Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bikaner, Barmer, Mount Abu, Jalore, Ahemdabad etc, Roadways main bus stand opposite Railway station & Golden bus terminal near State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, Shiv road, Jaisalmer are the two major bus stands.

Local transportation

General transportation in Jaisalmer consists of auto rickshaw and bicycles because these are good means to get around. Auto rickshaw is a cheap mode of transportation but drivers might not be friendly all the times. It is recommended to take rickshaw when you take congested roads in order to avoid bottlenecks.

Shopping in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

Mirror work embroidery articles, woolen pattue and other items like wooden boxes trickles silver jewelry and curios are available. Jaisalmer Shopping

You can shop for exquisitely carved wooden boxes in tiny curio shops. Traditional rugs, handwoven blankets and shawls in typical Rajasthani color and weave are also available. Mirror work, embroided article silver jewelry.

Trickles and curios are other boys of Jaisalmer. The shopping spots are within the fort and include sadar Bazar, sonaron ka Bass Manak Chowk, pansari bazar, Gandhi Darshan, Seema gram, Rajsthani Govt. shop and Khadi Gramodyog Emporium.

Jaisalmer is famous for embroidery, Rajasthani mirror work, rugs, blankets, antiques and old stone work. Tie-dye and other fabrics are made at the Kahdi Gramudyog Bhavan.

Mirror work embroidery articles, woolen pattue and other items like wooden boxes trickles silver jewelry and curios are available.